Dubai?s oldest shopping centre, Deira Mall, will undergo a series of expansions that will almost double its retail area
The expansion project, worth US$500mn, will add a food court, family entertainment centre, featuring an ice rink, indoor rollercoaster and other rides in addition to more than 130 new stores to the Al Ghurair Centre in Deira or the Deira mall.
The new stores will include big brands like Marks & Spencer, Mango, Iconic, Omega, Cortefiel and Calzedonia, bringing the total retail area to more than 850,000 sq ft.
David Thurling, vice-president of malls for Al Ghurair Properties, said, ?The reality is the mall is the oldest mall in Dubai and at one point in time it was the pioneering shopping mall in the city, which is now full of shopping malls.
?Al Ghurair Centre for quite some time lost some of its relevance to the new malls. So, what we are doing is making it relevant again and in a way which I think is unique.?
Thurling added, ?In many ways, the centre will build on the inherent vibrancy of the surrounding streets to create a bustling experience similar to places like Greenwich Village in New York or Covent Garden in London.?
Over time, he said, the Al Ghurair Centre will become a tourist attraction renowned for its street festivals, public art pieces and ongoing community-driven activities.
